Artificial eyelash and apparatus for storing and curling it



p 1950 J. M. HASSLER 2,503,552

* ARTIFICIAL EYELASH AND APPARATUS FOR STORING AND CURLING IT Filed March 18, 1947 fig 1 INVENTOR.

J. M. HASSLER ATTORNEY- Patented Apr. 11, 1950 ARTIFICIAL EYELASH AND APPARATUS FOR STORING AND CURLING IT J 0c M. Hassler, Altadena, Calif.

Application March 18, 1947, Serial No. 735,440

3 Claims.

This invention relates to artificial eyelashes and has as a broad object to facilitate the attachment, removal, storage, and reshaping of them.

A more specific object is to provide'an artificial lash that can be easily attached to the eyelid without the application of glue to the lid, and can be easily removed without leaving a residue of glue on the lid.

Another more specific object is to provide a holder for artificial lashes that will not only thoroughly protect them from dust and mechanical injury, but will at the same time restore their normal curl so that no special curling operation is necessary.

Still another object is to provide a lash with an integral tacky surface for attachment to the lid, in combination with a storage device for the lash that will preserve the tacky surface indefinitely while the lash is in storage.

Other more specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent from. thedescription to follow of a particular embodiment thereof.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, I provide an artificial eyelash of superior utility, with respect to its attachment to and removal from the eyelid, by employing, as the base or foundation for the individual lash hairs, a narrow foundation strip having an integral permanently tacky surface for adhering it to the eyelid. Further in accordance with the invention, I preserve this tacky surface of the foundation during storage, while at the same time thoroughly protecting the eyelash from mechanical injuries and contamination, by rolling it with a a strip of smooth non-absorbent, transparent material onto a small mandrel. The smooth nonabsorbent surface of the transparent sheet protects the tacky surface of the foundation from the atmosphere. The mandrel is chosen of such diameter as to impart the desired curvature to the lash hairs, thereby restoring and maintaining the original curl. The mandrel provides mechanical support to withstand any degree of rough handling during storage. Although it is not essential that the winding sheet be transparent, it is desirable because it permits inspection of the eyelash without removing it from the container.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a. perspective view of a complete artificial eyelash in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged cross section through the foundation of the lash of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section showing the mode of attachment of the artificial lash to the eyelid;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an eyelash holder in accordance with the invention, in partly unrolled condition; and

Fig. 5 is an end view of the holder shown in open condition, with two eyelashes placed thereon.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a lash assembly i0, hereinafter referred to as a lash. This lash l9 consists of a foundation II to which are secured lash hairs l2.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the lash foundation ll consists of a cellophane strip Ha having a tacky coating llb on one surface. The lash hairs. [2 are secured to the opposite face of the foundation strip l I as by cement I3. Cellophane tape having a permanenty tacky coating on one face thereof is well known. Transparent tapes, other than cellophane may be employed, and the exact composition either of the strip Ha, or of the tacky coating lib, does not constitute a part of the present invention.

In use, the lash IQ is secured to the upper eyelid l i (Fig. 3) by simply pressing the tacky'surface Nb of the foundation ll against the eyelid immediately above the natural lashes I6. The operation of attaching the lash is relatively simple, because there is no glue, cement, or other adhesive to be applied to the eyelid, the foundation I i being simply pressed against the eyelid to cause adherence. Furthermore, when the artificial lash is to be removed, the operation is performed by simply stripping the foundation ll away from the lid I4. Because of the fact that the tacky material llb is more cohesive than adhesive it all comes away from the eyelid, leaving the latter perfectly clean.

In accordance with the invention the lashes described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are packed for shipment, and for storage between periods of use, by placing them on an elongated wrapping sheet ll, which is then wound upon a mandrel l8. Fig. 4 shows the wrapping sheet I! partially unwound from the mandrel I8, with one lash l0 displayed thereon. The lash is maintained in position on the sheet I! because the tacky side of the foundation ll thereof is adhered to the face of the sheet IT.

The sheet I? is preferably of some smooth, non-absorbent material, such as cellophane, which not only acts as a base against which the foundation ll can be stuck, but protects the tacky coating llb of the foundation from the atmosphere, thereby lengthening its life.

A tab 20 having a tacky coating 20a on one surfac is preferably secured to the outer end of the wrapping sheet IT, to be wrapped around the sheet ll, after the latter has been wound around the mandrel l 8, to prevent the sheet from unwinding.

The holder consisting of the wrapping sheet ll and the mandrel It, not only provides complete mechanical protection for the lashes, as well as protection from dust and dirt, but also imparts the desired curl to the lashes. If the lashes are'badly out of curl, the curl can be restored by placing the holder containing the lashes in an oven and heating the assembly to about 200 F. Ordinarily, however, it is only necessary to keep the lashes in the holder when they are not being worn, to maintain them in desired condition of curl. The diameter of the mandrel I8 is so chosen that the curvature of its outer surface is substantially the same as the curve that is desired in the lashes. Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, the lashes have the same curvature (approximately) as the mandrel I8.

To prevent the wrapping sheet H from becoming detached from the mandrel I8, the inner end of the sheet may be cemented to the mandrel as indicated at [9 in Fig. 5. The foundation II, having the permanently tacky coating llb, facilitates the temporary attachment of the foundation II to the winding sheet I! preparatory to winding the lash about the mandrel l8. It also supports the lash on the sheet I! for any repair or rejuvenation operation that may desirably be performed on the lash. Thus while the lash is supported on the winding sheet IT, as shown in Fig. 4, the lash hairs can be straightened by brushing or combing. The lashes can also be trimmed to desired shape and dimensions while supported on the wrapping sheet IT.

Because of the fact that the lashes are positively supported with th desired curvature during storage in the holder, the packaged lashes are immune to any deterioration as the result of exposure to varying humidity and/or temperature.

For the purpose of explaining the invention, a

a specific embodiment thereof has been described 4 in substantial detail, but it is to be understood that various departures from the exact construction described can be made without departing from the invention, which is to be limited only to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an artificial eyelash comprising a foundation strip having lash hairs secured thereto and extending therefrom substantially perpendicularly, and storage means for the eyelash consisting of a mandrel and a sheet wound thereon in a closed spiral with said eyelash interposed between successive turns of said sheet and so positioned that the foundation strip extends parallel to the axis of the mandrel and the lash hairs extend circumferentially thereabout.

2. The combination described in claim 1 in which said foundation strip has a tacky surface for attachment to an eyelid and said sheet is of smooth-surface non-porous material.

3. The combination described in claim 1 in which said sheet is of transparent material.

JOE M. HASSLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 994,619 Taylor June 6, 1911 1,199,144 Zak Sept. 26, 1916 1,490,466 Hupka Apr. 15, 1924 2,079,256 Kaiser May 4, 1937 2,294,480 Rohweder Sept. 1, 1942 

